Evaluation Question 7: Looking back at the preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to a full product?

Since the beginning of my task which was the preliminary task I have learnt many new skills as well as developing on some skills which I already had.  The things which I enjoyed learning as well were the insight in what the conventions of a music magazine actually are. Also the amount of research and new things I found out to do was exciting from looking at how magazines are supposed to be layed out to what goes into getting a music magazine to sell. The way in which it was layed out completely changes it from looking like a poster or a leaflet or anything to looking like a real life music magazine.

The more I used Photoshop means that I became more use to it and things became more easy to use when using Photoshop on the preliminary task allowed me to get abit of a taster what was to come and that I was able to improve my skills more when moving on to are main task. When I got to the main task I felt much more comfortable with using Photoshop and was bale to use it to my advantage and play around with it more.

The main task was different because not only was I don’t a front cover and a contents page like in the preliminary task, I had to also create a double page spread on top on the other two pages. Doing a double spread allowed me to understand how to work using an A3 canvas and spread my work over it accordingly to fill up the right amount of space.

Throughout all of the tasks I learnt how to attract my certain target audience and to include them fully in my creation progress and to target certain areas at them that they would enjoy. I also leant the process in what magazines go through to produce a magazine; I learnt how to focus my magazine on my chosen target group and to learn the techniques to do this. A lot of detailed thought went into what I wanted to do to target my audience.

Since the preliminary task I have also gained more photography skills and what looks right on camera and certain composition layouts which make a photo look more attractive.        

Evaluation Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During the process of creating my product I have learnt many things about technology the helped me to construct my magazine. The process of constructing my magazine I have learnt how to use a Canon E0S 400D, I used this camera when I was taking the images for my magazine. I did as well use this camera for the preliminary task; I personally thought that when doing the main task that I learnt more about the camera itself and the things which can be done to make an image look better. The main front cover pictures of my main artist was taken in the basement studio at college this was done so that it was able to look professional and have features of a real music magazine. The quality of my other pictures which where not taken in the studio are very good and look decent for the camera I used.

Using the Canon E0S 400D to take my images allowed me that images that I took came out a good quality because the camera has very high megapixel, the flash could also be used to enhance the image quality. There was not really any main problem that I had with using the camera the only thing was with the connection of the corresponding lights and the flash.

The other new technology I found was Photoshop this is the editing program I use to develop my magazine. Before creating the magazine at the start my Photoshop skills where limited compared to what they are now. I used CS3 this in the version which they provide us with in college this allowed me to create the effect that I wanted to create so that my magazine has similar features as a real music magazine. I played around with different things such as the exposure, shadow\highlight, gradient map, brightness\contrast. These things allowed me to change the background black the burn tool was also used to allow certain bits darker and the sponge tool to lighten certain places.

There where many things which I choose to use to make my text look more appropriate to fit the theme of my magazine which I wanted to keep very urban, so this ment the text I used had to look very thick and heavy not delicate. One of things which I heavily used for the main titles was the bevel and emboss tool on the layer styles selection which can be got to by double clicking on that layer.        

Evaluation Question 5: How did you attract/ address your audience?

Connecting with my audience research as my guidance I used different ways to attract my target audience in different ways. One of the ways in which I choose to do this was through my front magazine cover which is an important part of my magazine. The way in which I targeted was through the model which I choose for the front cover, the models I have chosen are around the same age band of my targeted group this allows them to relate with the models. The two models are also very good looking; this is good to attract my audience as well. The models are wearing clothes that show a particular style which is inspired with the RnB/Hip-Hop scene. Many of the clothing which has been worn in the photo are high street clothing this again attracts with the audience wanting to purchase that item.

Another way in which I was able to attract my target audience was to from the cover lines to attract the correct audience. The reason why the cover lines was such an important thing was because from the research done previously in are audience research task. The music lines and the front covers cover line were very important because there was a whole theme surrounding the magazine. The 50 GREATEST old skool songs+ The TOP 10 NEW SKOOL SONGS ON ARE HIT LIST these where the main lines this is because much of the Hip-Hop music artists have been bringing back them old school beats. I really wanted to play on this and doing what could be seen to be a battle between these two generations. My target audience would know a lot about this new change on the music scene do this would be a good topic to attract my audience with. Another cover line which is extremely important is the #Your chance to WIN DRAKE2012 concert tickets, this is a very important line because I know that my target audience are attracted to things in which allow you to win something. This could be from the fatal attraction and excitement of wanting to win something out of everyone else.

Throughout I used different fonts mainly impact this was done to give the magazine a contemporary feel as well as a slight urban feel. I feel that this works well because it gives a certain mood to the magazine, it also allows I to be recognisable so that it can sort of look as if it is a trade mark.   

Another thing which was purposely done to attract my audience was the colour scheme which I had thought of. The colour scheme of magazine was mainly based on red and black these colours were highly popular when looking at the urban industry and the colours mainly associated with them. These colours are strong bold colours which allows the magazine to stand out and becomes eye catching to the audience to grab there attention. Even though the colouring seems to first of be very masculine I feel that I would attract both genders, this is because of that the urban music industry is very masculine but it still finds a way to attract a female audience. This is because a colour scheme does not effect the person in which will be interested in that certain music magazine, music has no gender barrier. The choice of language inside of my magazine is simple English this is because when reading a music magazine the reader wants it to be a very casual read and not have to be looking in a dictionary at words in which they may not understand. So it can be said that it is a magazine that is there for a light hearted read.

My contents page is another simple thing which was done to attract my audience, I done this just by keeping it simple and easy to look at straight away to be able to find what you are looking for. The contents page is also very easy on the eyes and is not to much all at one time. Simple page numbers which are in a different colour from the titles allows it easy to see the correct page numbers. Also I have added page numbers on top of the main images so that you are able to see the photo which is linked to what page number.   

Evaluation Question 4: Who would be the audience of your media product?

My music magazine is targeting an audience of the age around mid teens to early 30s; the countries it will mainly be based in will be America and the United Kingdom. This is mainly because these are the main two places where my magazines music genre (Hip-hop) is most popular.  The reason which I decided to target this age group is because I feel that my music magazines genre is aimed at a wide age range.

I wanted to target it to a wide age group but not to wide because I do not feel the people in the late 30s going into there 40s will like the things featured in my magazine. Just because of the fact of the people featured in it are much younger and the articles they would not be able to associate with.  But the older end of my targeted age group the early 30s would be appeal to them about the facts of the concerts and festivals which are coming up.

The ethnicity which my music magazines would be targeted at is again the same referring back to the research which I done previous for the coursework. My music magazine would be aimed at all types of ethnicity because I don’t feel that the music should be grouped to a certain ethnicity. But it is more likely to be brought by black people, because of the music artist which the magazines have inside of it.        

Evaluation question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

In coherence to the publishing house case study I conducted earlier in my planning and research stage of my course work, I feel that the same publishing house which I researched Conde Nast publications would be an ideal publishing house to publish and distribute my music magazine. A really great big reason for using Conde Nast would be that they do not already publish a music magazine, publishing my music magazine would mean they would be able to tap into a new marked as well as a new wider target audience. This would again would be increasing there popularity. Many of there current magazines focus on culture and fashion such as GQ and Vogue; these are two things which are focussed on in my magazine as well as music. These fashion and culture are two huge factors of the Hip-Hop culture and lifestyle, so these means that my magazine would be suitable for the company. My own music magazine would be able to diversify the company, and as well as targeting a younger audience when many of the magazines target affluent audience. So this means that my music magazine allows the company to be diversified.

Secondly, my magazine would be a huge financial benefit for Conde Nast publications if they published and distributed my magazine. My magazine would be taping into an audience which none of there other magazines already target at the moment, this would mean they would end up with there profits increasing as well as there being no other competition within the company already. The long term would also mean that they would end up with an increase in popularity; advertising will be increased as well as sponsors. This would mean that the publishing company would be more recognisable to audiences because it would be associated with my magazine.

The stores in which I would distribute my music magazines in would probably be music stores such as HMV, as well as other high street shops like WhSmiths, water stones and other high street shops. HMV is one of the biggest music high street stores in the United Kingdom because they do not suffer form any other competition there are no other music stores on the high street. By doing this it would be more accessible to my target audience by where it is geographically based.        

Evaluation Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My music magazine was really aimed to be targeted at a young adult audience which includes both male and female, but probably does aim to a more male audience.

The audience covers quite a wide age range because I feel that music really does not have a limit to who I interested in it, but from the articles which are featured on the inside I feel that the audience’s age had to be thought about carefully so I would say really mid teens to early 30s. I was able to aim my magazine at my particular social group by the images which I used in my magazine. The type of person which I would try to aim my magazine at would be people which love music and have a strong passion for listening to the new unique talent out there. Straight away from the photograph which I used for my front cover, there are certain things which are done to aim it at my targeted audience.

One of the ways in which I have done this it to dress the models in very Hip-Hop urban clothing, this was done with them wearing very dark clothing this is seen constantly in      Hip-Hop magazines not very bright colours are worn. Also to add to the clothing which is being worn they are wearing jewellery which looks to be very over exaggerated, which many of the artist wear to show of the amount of money which they have. The model on the right also wear sunglasses which he is holding above his head, this is another piece of clothing that from the genre I have based my magazine on sunglasses are regularly worn by the male artists.

The attitude that is being portrayed through the photograph is one of complete no amusement expression and the model is looking straight down the came. The style of the models in the photograph could be very much associated with other music artist such as Hip-Hop urban artists such as Drake and Rick Ross, with the big clothing but sometimes classical as well as the constant wear of dark Ray ban sunglasses.

Evaluation Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

At the start of this task I looked at many different music magazines from different music genres and especially from the music genre in which I decided to focus my music magazine on. I looked at how these music magazine used the different media conventions and how this was used to target there specific audience. In my own music magazine which I created I used most of the conventions which would be used in a music magazine of the same genre as mine, this was done to make it look professional and relevant to my chosen genre. On my music magazine one of the conventions which I choose to use was having the large mast head at the top of the page. The reason for doing this was so that I wanted it to stand out the most on the front cover of the magazine; this again is so that it stands out from other magazines inside of a shop. Another reason in which I choose to have the mast head at the top of the page is so that it again follows the conventions of real music magazines. The font which I used on the cover and throughout my magazine is Impact, the reason for this is that it still keeps it looking modern but gives it and urban look with the straight edges. The effects which I have used on the mast head again keeps it looking urban with the inner white glow and the strikethrough.   

Another very important convention which I followed from magazines was the date line and barcode, in most magazines the dateline is normally above the barcode so this is where I have decided to put it as well to follow the normal magazines conventions.

A magazine selling line is the sharp selling line which gives the reader more of insight to what that issue will be on and giving also giving a focus to that issue. This again when doing my research at the beginning of the task was another thing which I had realised was a convention which was widely used in a music magazine. The selling line also helps target the audience such as my selling line “The NEW HOT TALENT that are bringing back old skool beats”, this appeals to my audience that are into heavy hip hop beats and who are the new talents around at the time.

The next part of the music magazine task which we was asked to do was the contents page, my contents page as well follows the developed conventions which are used in the real music magazines. The contents page also has the other images which I have taken; many magazines on their contents page have other images of what else will be in the magazine. These images sometimes say whether the magazine will brought if the buyer thinks the magazine looks interesting enough by the images on the contents page. To give a sense of continuity and flow with the front cover I have always included photos that are of the main artist which have the main story and the front cover image.

I set out my contents page with categories which are set out vertically around the page; this has shown to be a very popular convention of setting out a magazine contents page.  I followed normal conventions by placing my categories on one side of the page this makes it look more neat and easier to read. 

Finally for the task we had to a double page spread; this again was done to follow the music magazines conventions. I decided to do a question and answer spread this was focussed on that the readers of my music magazine had sent in the questions. The set out of the double page spread is very simple with the shapes, which again is a convention of a question and answer double page spread. I used an image of the artist but I put it inside of the words “uncut and exposed”, the reason why I done this is because I wanted to carry on with my old skool and new skool them with the writing which looks slightly like the old RUN DMC font. As well as carrying on with my theme I also carried on with the same colour scheme for the double page spread.

Double Page Spread:Music Magazine

Contents Page:Music Magazine

Front Cover:Music Magazine

Un-Manipulated photos (Notes)

When picking what photos I should have used from the photo session which I done, I looked at what ones would be best suited for what page. As well as looking at what the normal magazine conventions are for the images which are used on the front page, contents page and the double page spread.

When picking my front cover photo I knew that I wanted something that would look very casual and relaxed. I did also wasn’t it to be easy to see what kind of music artist they where which was shown from the way they where positioned, being able to see what they where wearing and as well as seeing clearly what the props where that I used. The contents page and double page spread photos which are used are very similar from the angles which they where shot in which is mainly jus showing there heads and shoulders. This angle was used because the importance of this it to show who the artists are and the expression which is being given to the camera.  

Un-Manipulated Photos

Case study of a Publishing House

ANALYSE A PUBLISHING COMPANY, AND THE TITLES IT PUBLISHES. WHY WOULD IT TRY TO TARGET DIFFERENT AUDIENCES WITH EACH MAGAZINE THAT IT MAKES?

 http://www.condenast.co.uk/

Conde Nast is a magazine publisher, which is part of the advance publications. Just in the United States it produces up to 18 consumer magazines which include Vanity Fair, GQ, The New Yorker and Vogue. The company’s main headquarters is based in New York City and was founded in 1909 by Condé Montrose Nast, and to present had been owned by the Newhouse family since 1959. He launched his empire with the purchase of Vogue, which was created in 1892; it was not incorporated into the Conde Nast publications until 1923.

Conde Nast is said to be the originator of the “Lifestyle magazines”, this is a type of magazine which particularly focuses on a certain interest or class instead of trying to target the largest readership as they possibly can. There magazines focus on a wide range of subjects which include travel, home, food, culture and many other interests, but fashion being a very large portion of the companies focus. The magazine titles that the company publishes is; Vogue ,W ,Glamour ,Allure ,Self ,Teen Vogue ,GQ ,Details ,Lucky ,Style.com/Print ,Style.com ,Tatler Architectural Digest ,Brides ,Golf Digest ,Golf World ,Bon Appétit ,Epicurious ,Gourmet Live ,Condé Nast Traveler ,Wired ,Ars Technica ,Reddit ,Vanity Fair ,The New Yorker ,WWD ,Footwear News, Easy Living, World of interiors, LOVE, Conde Nast Traveller.

There are many audiences which are targeted by these magazines because there are such a vast variety of magazines, each of them have there own targeted audience which they feel would be appropriate for there magazine. They are able to do this because many of there magazines are world wide and are available to readers when and where ever they would like them. Many of there magazines are able to create close relationships with there readers which means many of them are best sellers and are the magazines that keep on flying of the shelves. Such as the magazine          ‘Easy Living’ this magazine allows a reader relationship every issue portrays a personalised relationship with the reader, the magazine is aimed at middle class working or non working house wives. This again allows the reader to feel a connection because everything that is in the magazine is relevant to what they are going through in there daily routines.   

The reason that they try to target different audience for each magazine which they sell, is for the simple fact of that there would not be any point in creating a magazine which is a competitor to one of there own other magazines. This would be putting one of there other magazines in jeopardy of selling less magazines and becoming out of business.    

 Conde Nast recently expanded its self to focus on new modern technological marketing services; the company focussed new ideas on products such as licensed merchandise and apps. 2010 was the year in which GQ became the very first Conde Nast title which was available on the ipad.  The company does as well have four business to business publications, 27 websites and more than 50 apps for mobile and tablet devices. Other connected business interests which Conde Nast has is “Conde Nast international Ltd”, this company publishes the international editions of the original United States titles this was incorporated in 2005. It operates a subsidiary of advance publications; this certain division publishes 104 websites, representing 24 markets around the globe and more than 126 magazines.   

 

Experiments

Profiling your Audience

Lamar is 19 years old, and would be as aspirational reader from the inner city. He lives and breathes Hip Hop and R&B music. He is a regular 19 year old he loves going out with his friends to the new hottest raves, playing the new video games out and has a very high interest in new fashion and making sure he looks swagged out. But when he is not busy having fun and relaxing he is focussed on his education and is doing a degree in music technology. This means he is always on top of all the new music trends and loves finding new and up an coming artists just to find something that just has that different edge to it from the other sounds that are out at the moment.

Lamar is the type of reader which i would target my magazine at, to do this i would make sure that my magazine is always packed with new fashion that is hot on trend and has a section which is focussed on just the new up and coming music stars.

Magazine Mock Ups

Demographic Profile

My music magazine will be targeted internationally; however it would mostly be aimed at the American and British youth market. The magazine will be aimed equally at both sexes male and female as well as being targeted fully at the ABC1 social class. The magazine is for people who have a great passion for music and music is a big part of their lives, and may also be interested in making their own music. The audience would have to be interested in the music genres associated with R&B and Hip-hop.